Brian Lee Secures Mandate To Lead Jackson County
Brian Lee secured the leadership of Jackson County after winning the mayoral election with 74.3 percent of the vote. Lee said his professional background in the local school system and county government served as the foundation for his campaign. Lee said the electorate expressed a desire for a hard-working leader who could provide a positive […]
Jackson Parents Targeted In Latest Fake Abduction Scam
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents of a phone scam where callers claim to have kidnapped children. Law enforcement said the calls demand parents purchase gift cards at the Cookeville-area Walmart locations. Officials said the callers use personal information gathered from the internet to make the fraudulent kidnapping claims appear credible. The men […]
Local Officials Detail Essential Election Day Requirements
Election administrators regionwide are preparing for a significant turnout as they finalize preparations for Thursday’s election. Overton County Elections Administrator Craig Story said polling locations will be open from 9am to 7pm at nine precincts throughout the county. Story said voters must cast their ballots at their specific community polling places rather than the early […]
Grants Help To Accelerate Jackson High School Farm
Jackson County High School accelerating the development of a new on-campus farm after securing multiple grants to move forward the school’s agricultural plan. Assistant Principal Jay Halfacre said the school began identifying specific infrastructure needs last year to create a hands-on agricultural site for students. Halfacre said the project includes a fruit orchard, a livestock […]
Brooklyn Duo Handed 20 Years For Granville Gold Scheme
Two Brooklyn men were sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to theft charges related to a $750,000 gold scam targeting a Granville resident. Jackson County Sheriff’s Department officials said Fei Wang and Zhi Huang must pay $750,000 in restitution to the victim as a condition of their sentence. Officials said the investigation […]
Jackson County Approves Moratorium On Data Centers
Jackson County approved a 12-month moratorium on data centers with an additional infrastructure study. Commissioner Bryan Lee said the county needs to pause development to ensure that any future data center projects align with the best interests of the community. Lee said the current regulatory environment makes a moratorium one of the only available options […]
Jackson County Lowers Tax Rate, Boosts Employee Pay
The Jackson County Commission approved a new budget Monday that lowers the property tax rate to 1.518 while providing pay raise for county employees. Jackson County Commission Chair Joey Denson said the county was required to adjust the tax rate downward following a property reappraisal cycle. “It’s a balancing act,” Denson said. “You can’t fund […]
Enrollment Gains Drive Jackson Schools Funding Increase
Jackson County Schools receiving its first increase in state funding since the implementation of a new funding formula due to rising student enrollment and strategic financial management. Director of Schools Jason Hardy said the school system expects an increase of approximately $600,000 to $700,000 in state funds compared to the previous year. Hardy said the […]
Upper Cumberland TCAP Test Scores Trending Upward
State TCAP numbers released Monday show an average of 39.1 percent of Upper Cumberland students showing proficiency in English/Language ELA and 37.6 showing proficiency in math across all grades. Proficiency rate includes those who met or exceeded expectations this year. These numbers rose in both areas across the region. White County stood out with the […]
Heavy Rainfall A Threat Across UC, Flooding A Concern
Emergency management officials warning residents across the Upper Cumberland to prepare for heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding during the next 48 hours. A weather system moving through the region threatens to drop up to four inches of rain through Sunday. Putnam County Deputy Director of Emergency Management Tyler Smith said the primary concern involves […]
